THAT’S THE WAY LOVE GOES (Janet Jackson song)

“That’s the Way Love Goes” is a song by American recording artist Janet Jackson from her fifth studio album, titled “janet.” (lowercase). It was written and produced by Jackson and Jam & Lewis. The single saw Jackson transitioning to sensual territory and themes of romantic lust, considered a shocking contrast to her previous releases among critics and the public. The song’s slow tempo fused pop, R&B, and funk with flourishes of downtempo music. It received positive reception from contemporary music critics, who praised it as “iconic,” “hypnotic,” and an “extravaganza” for its production and vocals.

The song became Jackson’s biggest hit to date in the United States and was one of the longest-reigning hits of the year, topping the Billboard Hot 100 for eight weeks. It also topped the Hot 100 Airplay for ten weeks, as well as spending multiple weeks at number one on several of Billboard’s other component charts. The song became the first and only single in history to debut at number one on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart. Internationally, it placed at number one in Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Hungary, South Africa, Japan, and Europe’s Hot 100 Singles chart. It is the seventeenth biggest hit of the nineties and the biggest selling single by a female artist in South Africa. It has sold over three million copies worldwide.